Spanish La Liga Sunday, Round 19: Barcelona Move Four Points Clear As Real Madrid Held To Shock Draw At Almeria

Malaga threatened the most unlikely of comebacks for a minute there. Julio Baptiste, with quite possibly his first touch of the ball, drew a foul on the edge of the box, with Portuguese winger Duda curling in a beautiful free-kick, just over the wall and past a static Victor Valdes. But the goal only stirred Barcelona back into action as David Villa notched his second and Barcelonas fourth of the night to make the three points safe.

Xavi was the creator, slipping in a trademark pass that put David Villa one-on-one with Asenjo. ‘El Guaje’ rarely misses these chances, rounding the goalkeeper before slotting the ball into an empty net. If there was even a shred of doubt with regard to the result, the fourth goal made it game, set and match.

It would appear that Barcelona aren’t in the mood to deal out another thrashing, with Peps side looking happy to play in second gear against a Malaga side that look completely incapable of creating anything in attack. Credit to Pellegrini though, Malaga have tightened things up in midfield, with Xavi not seeing quite as much of the ball as in the first half, and Iniesta and Messi also slightly more subdued since the break.

Pellegrini also hasn’t held back with the substitutions, sending on Eliseu and Rondon in an admirable attempt to salvage something from the match, even if it’s only a consolation goal. With so much money being invested in the side, it’s the last Malaga can do to show their Arab owners the potential on offer. There is absolutely no doubt that Barcelona will get three points from this one though, extending their lead at the top in the process.

We’ve all seen it before. Every team and manager has seen it before. Yet no-one can stop them. Barcelona have been at their irresistable best, sweeping aside a poor Malaga side who had arrived with ambitions high, but enter the break with the prospect of a thrashing on the cards. New signing Julio Baptiste has hardly touched the ball, but to be fair to the big striker none of his teammates have enjoyed much time on the ball either.

Barca have been dominant. Totally and utterly outplaying their rivals with their unique brand of spellbinding football that rips defences to pieces week in week out. With Xavi and Iniesta enjoying far too much space around the Malaga area, David Villa, Messi and Pedro have had a whole host of chances and it’s no exaggeration to say that Barcelona could have gone in at half-time 5 or 6 up. Lionel Messi, while at his creative best, has been guilty of wasting a couple of chances, while Xavi was unlucky to see a swerving shot come back off the bar.

With Malaga still to create anything meaningful in attack, Barcelona have eased off slightly after a storming start but have still managed to add a third through Pedro who is having an incredible season so far. Every single Barca attack is laced with danger and Malaga are not getting anywhere near the ball. When Peps Dream Team are in this mood there is no stopping them, with Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Pedro unplayable. You have to feel for Manuel Pellegrini and his men.

Dani Alves pulled up on 25 minutes with what looked like a hamstring problem, and while the full-back attempted to continue he had to replaced minutes later with Adriano coming on in his place. Not a bad replacement! Minutes later Barcelona were three to the good as Pedro took advantage of a loose ball in the box to poke the ball past Asenjo. Both Villa and Messi have had further chances to turn the match into a rout before we even reach half-time.

While Real Madrid toiled and toiled against Almeria, it has taken Barcelona no time at all to put themselves infront against Malaga, with Andres Iniesta stroking home a beautiful goal on four minutes. Dani Alves rolled the ball across the front of the area, with Iniesta striking the ball in first time off the post, giving Sergio Asenjo no chance.

With Barcelona camped in the Malaga half, David Villa then added the second on 17 minutes, with Busquets, Xavi and Messi combining to slip in Villa, who rolled the ball through Asenjos legs. It has been a torrid first 20 minutes for Malaga, who look absolutely shell-shocked. Just before the second goal, Xavi had curled a stunning shot off the crossbar and you have to say as things stand Malaga could be on the end of a thrashing tonight.

Cristiano Ronaldo was an inch away from handing Real Madrid all three points with a thumping last minute free-kick which rattled the underside of the crossbar, but Almeria held on during a frantic last ten minutes to earn a well-deserved draw against an under-par Real Madrid. Jose Mourinho will be left to rue poor displays from Di Maria and Ozil, while a lack of bite in midfield allowed Almeria to exert serious pressure on a unfamiliar looking Madrid defence.

The pressure finally told just before the break, when the outstanding Pablo Piatti burst into the box, only to be felled by Sergio Ramos. It would have been a tough call for the referee to make, but he was spared the wrath of the home crowd as Jose Ulloa swept home the loose ball from the edge of the penalty area. The second half failed to produce the expected Real Madrid fightback and as we entered the final quarter it looked for all the world that Almeria would add a second with Piatti and Cruzat causing all sorts of problems.

It had looked for all the world that Almeria were going to go two up as we entered the final 15 minutes, but you just cannot write Real Madrid off and after one of the deadly counter attacks, Esteban Granero has pulled Mourinhos side on level terms. Cristiano fed the ball into Karim Benzema, who showed good vision to feed the ball out to Granero who smashed the ball into the top corner at Diego Alves’ near post.

You could see from the reaction of the Madrid bench just how much that goal meant, because Real Madrid were really suffering. Pablo Piatti has given Alvaro Arbeloa a torrid time down the right, and with Bernadello and Mbami still controlling proceedings in the middle and Ulloa an everpresent threat in attack, the equaliser was a massive blow to the home side.

Jose Ulloa has just put the cat among the pigeons! With Real Madrid looking like they were just beginning to exert some serious pressure in and around the Almeria penalty area, a surging run from Pablo Piatti saw the ball fall to Ulloa just inside the box, with the striker sweeping the ball past Iker Casillas and into the net. You have to say Sergio Ramos and Albiol were found wanting there, far too much space for Ulloa to put his side ahead.

Just before the goal, Karim Benzema got his chance to play his way back into Mourinhos plans as the Frenchman coming on in place of Kaká. A little surprised to see Kaká make way, with Angel Di Maria not contributing at all out on the right, although it did appear Kaká had taken a knock. Real Madrid are still struggling to exert themselves in the middle, with almost all of their attacks coming from Cristiano Ronaldo down the wings.

The goal never came for Almeria and in all fairness it was Real Madrid who came closest to breaking the deadlock just before half-time when a superb pass from Xabi Alonso set Cristiano Ronaldo free, but Diego Alves was equal to the Portuguese’s effort. Sami Khedira compounded a poor first half by failing to connect with the rebound.

While it would have been harsh on Almeria, who have more than played their part in a hard fought first 45 minutes, it was also a timely reminder of how effective Real Madrid are on the counter. With only one clear chance created in the first half, you can’t help but feel that Real Madrid will step in up after the break. The longer the match stays tied at 0-0, the more Real Madrid will begin to turn the screw. It will be a test of Almerias nerve to see if they can hang on as we enter the latter stages of the match.

The headline is perhaps a touch dramatic judging on what we’ve seen so far, but Almeria are beginning to create a few chances. Pablo Piatti has seen a header fly over while Hernan Bernadello has just flashed a shot past Iker Casillas’ right post. Almeria manager Jose Luis Oltra will be hoping that his side manage to sneak in a goal just before half time, otherwise we could see a repeat of Real Madrids last outing when they overcame a difficult first half against Villarreal to end up clear winners.

It will come as no surprise that Real Madrids biggest threat comes in the form of Cristiano Ronaldo, although La Ligas topscorer is not having one of his finer nights with a few misplaced passes and failed dribbles. In midfield, you can see why Jose Mourinho has plumped for Lass Diarra recently, with Sami Khedira struggling to impose himself in the battle for the ball in the centre of the park. Mbami and Bernadello have shown much more commitment in the tackle as well as a greater desire to push forward, which has allowed Almeria to push Madrid onto the backfoot.

Almeria are up for this one no doubt about it. Limited in terms of quality they may be, but they are trying to make up for it with large helpings of workrate and passion, roared on by a vibrant home crowd. Still, you can’t help but feel that Real Madrid are just working their way into the match, waiting for the early storm to blow over before allowing their extra quality upfront to take over.

With Karim Benzema only worthy of a place on the bench after a dismal midweek outing in the cup, Cristiano Ronaldo is heading the attack and as always looks dangerous every time he gets near the ball. Angel Di Maria, Mesut Ozil and Kaká, who looks in incredibly good touch for someone who’s been out for so long, are buzzing around Ronaldo in support but Real Madrid are yet to create a moment of real danger.

This Sunday evening sees both of La Liga’s headliners face smaller-named opponents, possibly giving both teams an opportunity to put on a show. Almeria and Malaga are not having the greatest seasons, though Manuel Pellegrini has done well to get Malaga back on the right track. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona will be disappointed if they are unable to put together comfortable wins.

Both Malaga and Almeria are fighting the drop, though the latter side seems much more likely to go down to the Segunda at the end of the year. Malaga have a free-spending chairman who has already brought in Julio Baptista from Roma. They’re linked to a host of other re-enforcements, though many of them may not arrive until the summer. They have some talent and a great manager, so Malaga could conceivably give a challenge to the Blaugranes.